DRAFT: A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Zechariah 1-6

Kuruvilla Thomas
Bangalore
Published on 7 March 2022 *

Fig. 1

Introduction

This study treats Zechariah 1:8-6:15 as a cryptochiasmus in order to arrive at a coherent reconfiguration of the text ( see definition of cryptochiasmus in [1] ). If you wish to skip the technicalities of a chiastic parse, you may read starting from Section 4 of the Discussion section, which has the reconfigured text.

The prophecy in Zechariah 1:8-6:15 primarily details the setting up of various aspects of the administration of the New Israel and the world after the defeat of Satan's empire at the start of the Millennial Reign. The prophecy also makes predictions regarding the construction of the Second Temple and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Through a series of seemingly unconnected symbolic vignettes, the prophecy additionally provides an insight into some of the workings of the spiritual world.

Discussion

1. Presuppositions

We base our parse of Zechariah 1:8-6:15 on the assumption that it refers to 3 Periods:

1. The Judahites Reconstruct the Temple and Jerusalem (c.519BC - c.444BC). This Period extends from the time this prophecy was given to Zechariah, to the time of the reconstruction of Jerusalem under Nehemiah.
2. The Judahites are Warned and Punished during the First Jewish–Roman War (66AD–73AD).
3. Satan is Defeated and Christ's Reign is Established at the Start of the Millennial Reign (circa 2027AD).

2. Parsing the chiasmus

We will use the NIV Bible for this parse.

Parsing this chiasmus involves dividing portions of the text into three categories as above. We will call the period of the Construction of the Second Temple Period 1, The First Jewish–Roman War Period 2 and The Start of Christ's Millennial Reign Period 3.

Categorizing Zechariah 1:8-6:15

Ch 1 Vs 8-17 belong to Period 1. After the exile in Babylon, the temple and the city of Jerusalem are restored with the help of the "horsemen".

Ch 1 Vs 18 - Ch 4 Vs 14 belong to Period 3. A series of prophecies regarding various aspects of governance of the New Israel and the world: political, religious and economic. We establish the opening boundary of this subunit based on the fact that 1:19 mentions all of Israel, including the Northern Tribes.

Ch 5 Vs 1-4 belong to Period 2. Judahites are warned and punished in the First Jewish-Roman War.

Ch 5 Vs 5 - Ch 6 Vs 8 belongs to Period 3. Satan's influence over the Israelites' economy is removed. Christ defeats Satan and takes control over the rest of the world.

Ch 6 Vs 9-15 belong to Period 1. Zechariah performs a prophetic action that predicts that the Messiah will be both priest and king.

Original text

We color-code the chiastic units of the original text (NIV) below for easy visual identification using: red for Period 1, blue for Period 2 and green for Period 3.

Zechariah 1 8 During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man mounted on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, piebald [a] and white horses.
9 I asked, “What are these, my lord?”
The angel who was talking with me answered, “I will show you what they are.”
10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the land [b].”
11 And they reported to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone throughout the land [c] and found the whole land [d] at rest and in peace.”
12 Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?” 13 So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.
14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, 15 and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment.’
16 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty.
17 “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”
18 Then I looked up, and there before me were four horns. 19 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?”
He answered me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”
20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 21 I asked, “What are these coming to do?”
He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them, to throw down these horns of the peoples, that lifted [e] up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”

Retranslation notes for Zechariah 1
[a] vs 9 "piebald" instead of "brown", based on the LXX.
[b-d] vs 10-11 "land" instead of "earth".
[e] vs 21 "them, to throw down these horns of the peoples, that lifted" instead of " them and throw down these horns of the nations who lifted".


Zechariah 2 1 Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 I asked, “Where are you going?”
He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”
3 While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him. 4 He said to him:[a] “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be like towns without walls [b] because of the great number of people and animals in it. 5 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’
6 “Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “though [c] I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven,” declares the Lord.
7 “Come, Zion! Escape, you who live in Daughter Babylon!” 8 Truly this is what the Lord Almighty says after the Glorious One has sent me against the peoples that have plundered you. Truly whoever touches you touches the pupil of his eye. [d] 9 I will surely raise my hand against them, so that they will become plunder for their own slaves [e]. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.
10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. 11 “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people." I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.[f] 12 The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling. [g]

Retranslation notes for Zechariah 2
[a] vs 3,4 "him. 4 He said to him" instead of "him 4 and said to him:". Modified to fit chiasmus.
[b] vs 4 "Jerusalem will be like towns without walls" instead of "Jerusalem will be a city without walls". "Jerusalem" represents all of Israel in this verse.
[c] vs 6 "though" instead of "for".
[d] vs 8 'Truly this is what the Lord Almighty says after the Glorious One has sent me against the peoples that have plundered you. Truly whoever touches you touches the pupil of his eye.' instead of 'For this is what the Lord Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye— '.
[e] vs 9 ", so that they will become plunder for their own slaves" instead of "so that their slaves will plunder them".
[f] vs 11 modified the punctuation: ' “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people." I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.' instead of ' “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.'
[g] vs 13 modified the punctuation: moved the closing quote to vs 11 above.


Zechariah 3 1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”
3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”
Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”
5 Then I said, “Put a clean mitre [a] on his head.” So they put a mitre [b] on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.
6 The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: 7 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Truly you [c] will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, [d] you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you access to [e] these standing here.
8 “‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. 9 See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave its inscription [f],’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in one [g] day.
10 “‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Retranslation notes for Zechariah 3
[a,b] vs 6 "mitre" instead of "turban".
[c] vs 7 "Truly you" instead of "If you".
[d] vs 7 removed "then" as this is not a conditional sentence.
[e] vs 7 "access to" instead of "a place among".
[f] vs 9 "engrave its inscription" instead of "an inscription on it".
[g] vs 9 "one day" instead of "a single day".


Zechariah 4 1 Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?”
I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
4 I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” [a]
6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”
8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it." [b] Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.
10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the plumb line [c] in the hand of Zerubbabel?”
11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”
12 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”
13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?”
“No, my lord,” I said.
14 So he said, “These are the two sons of oil who [d] serve the Lord of all the earth.”

Retranslation notes for Zechariah 4
[a] vs 5 Used ESV translation for the verse as it is closer to the Hebrew.
[b] vs 9 Added closing quote after "complete it".
[c] vs 10 "plumb line" instead of "chosen capstone".
[d] vs 14 "sons of oil who" instead of "who are anointed to".


Zechariah 5 1 I looked again, and there before me was a flying scroll.
2 He asked me, “What do you see?”
I answered, “I see a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.”
3 And he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; according [a] to what it says on one side, every thief will be purged [b], and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be purged [c]. 4 The Lord Almighty declares, ‘I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in that house and destroy it completely, both its timbers and its stones.’”
5 Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, “Look up and see what is appearing.”
6 I asked, “What is it?”
He replied, “It is an ephah vessel [d].” And he added, “This is their appearance in all the land.[e]”
7 Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the ephah vessel [f] sat a woman! 8 He said, “This is wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the ephah vessel [g] and pushed its lead cover down on it.
9 Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah vessel[h] between heaven and earth.
10 “Where are they taking the ephah vessel [i]?” I asked the angel who was speaking to me.
11 He replied, “To build her a house in the land of Babylon: and when it is prepared, she shall be set there in her own place.[j]”

Retranslation notes for Zechariah 5
[a] vs 3 "according" instead of "for according".
[b,c] vs 3 "purged" instead of "destroyed".
[d] vs 6 "an ephah vessel" instead of "a basket".
[e] vs 6 "This is their appearance in all the land" instead of "This is their iniquity in all the land".
[f-i] vs 7-10 "ephah vessel" instead of "basket".
[j] vs 11 "To build her a house in the land of Babylon: and when it is prepared, she shall be set there in her own place." instead of "To the country of Babylonia to build a house for it. When the house is ready, the basket will be set there in its place".


Zechariah 6 1 I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots coming out from between the two mountains [a]—mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black, 3 the third white, and the fourth colorful, mottled [b]. 4 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 The angel answered me, “These are four spirits [c] of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world. 6 The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses goes after them [d], and the one with the mottled [e] horses toward the south.”
7 When the colorful horses went out, they were eager to patrol the earth. And he said, “Go patrol the earth!” So they patrolled the earth. [f]
8 Then he called to me, “Look, those going toward the north country have brought me peace about the north country.” [g]
9 The word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11 Take the silver and gold and make crowns [h], and set them [i] on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak. 12 Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ 14 The crowns [j] will be given to Helem [k], Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord. 15 Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord your God.”

Retranslation notes for Zechariah 6
[a] vs 1 "the two mountains" instead of "two mountains".
[b] vs 3 "colorful, mottled" instead of "dappled—all of them powerful". The word translated "colorful" literally means "strong", but since the context is colour, we treat it as figuratively meaning a striking variety of colours.
[c] vs 5 "four spirits" instead of "the four spirits".
[d] vs 6 "goes after them" instead of "toward the west".
[e] vs 6 "mottled" instead of "dappled".
[f] vs 7 'When the colorful horses went out, they were eager to patrol the earth. And he said, “Go patrol the earth!” So they patrolled the earth.' instead of 'When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth. And he said, “Go throughout the earth!” So they went throughout the earth.'
[g] vs 8 "brought me peace about the north country" instead of "given my Spirit rest in the land of the north". Based on the New English Translation.
[h] vs 11 "crowns" instead of "a crown".
[i] vs 11 "them" instead of "it".
[j] vs 14 "crowns" instead of "crown".
[k] vs 14 "Helem" instead of "Heldai", as in the Hebrew.

3. Building the reconfigured text

From this parse, it appears that Zechariah 1:8-6:15 forms a cryptochiasmus as below:

A1   Ch 1 Vs 8-17 Period 1. Jerusalem and its temple are restored
  B1   Ch 1 Vs 18 - Ch 4 Vs 14 Period 3. The New Israel is set up
    X   Ch 5 Vs 1-4 Period 2. Wicked Judahites are warned and punished
  B2   Ch 5 Vs 5 - Ch 6 Vs 8 Period 3. Christ takes control over the world
A2   Ch 6 Vs 9-15 Period 1. A prophetic action regarding the coming Messiah

We now reconstruct the passages in the right order based on the chiastic structure above and based on the ordering rules of a cryptochiasmus [1].

We lead with central pivot point 'X'. The corresponding subunits (For example; subunit A1 corresponds to A2) are placed contiguously to form units (For example, A1,A2 is a unit ) so that we get a list of such units.

The sequence selected for rearrangement is:

X  [A1,A2]  [B1,B2]        (1)

Translating (1) into verse numbers, we get:

Ch 5 Vs 1-4   [Ch 1 Vs 8-17, Ch 6 Vs 9-15]   [Ch 1 Vs 18 - Ch 4 Vs 14, Ch 5 Vs 5 - Ch 6 Vs 8]        (2)

We arrive at the reconfigured passage in the next section by rearranging the verses so they are in sequence (2).

4. Zechariah 1:8-6:15 Reconfigured

The Judahites are Warned and Punished during the First Jewish–Roman War (66AD–73AD) (Ch 5 Vs 1-4)
Chapter 5 1 I looked again, and there before me was a flying scroll. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.”
3 And he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; according to what it says on one side, every thief will be purged, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be purged.
4 The Lord Almighty declares, ‘I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in that house and destroy it completely, both its timbers and its stones.’”

The Judahites Reconstruct the Temple and Jerusalem (c.519BC - c.444BC) (Ch 1 Vs 8-17, Ch 6 Vs 9-15)
Chapter 1 8 During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man mounted on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, piebald and white horses. 9 I asked, “What are these, my lord?” The angel who was talking with me answered, “I will show you what they are.”
10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the land.” 11 And they reported to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone throughout the land and found the whole land at rest and in peace.”
12 Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?” 13 So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.
14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, 15 and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment.’
16 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 17 “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”

Chapter 6 9 The word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11 Take the silver and gold and make crowns, and set them on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak. 12 Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ 14 The crowns will be given to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord. 15 Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord your God.”

Satan is Defeated and Christ's Reign is Established at the Start of the Millennial Reign (circa 2027AD) (Ch 1 Vs 18 - Ch 4 Vs 14, Ch 5 Vs 5 - Ch 6 Vs 8)
Chapter 1 18 Then I looked up, and there before me were four horns. 19 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?” He answered me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”
20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 21 I asked, “What are these coming to do?” He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them, to throw down these horns of the peoples, that lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”

Chapter 2 1 Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”
3 While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him.
4 He said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be like towns without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it. 5 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’
6 “Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “though I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven,” declares the Lord. 7 “Come, Zion! Escape, you who live in Daughter Babylon!” 8 Truly this is what the Lord Almighty says after the Glorious One has sent me against the peoples that have plundered you.
Truly whoever touches you touches the pupil of his eye. 9 I will surely raise my hand against them, so that they will become plunder for their own slaves. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.
10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. 11 “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people."
I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.
12 The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

Chapter 3 1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”
3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”
Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”
5 Then I said, “Put a clean mitre on his head.” So they put a clean mitre on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.
6 The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: 7 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Truly you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you access to these standing here.
8 “‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. 9 See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave its inscription,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in one day.
10 “‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Chapter 4 1 Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
4 I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. 7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.
Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”
8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it." Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. 10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel?”
11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?” 13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I said. 14 So he said, “These are the two sons of oil who serve the Lord of all the earth.”

Chapter 5 5 Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, “Look up and see what is appearing.” 6 I asked, “What is it?” He replied, “It is an ephah vessel.” And he added, “This is their appearance in all the land.”
7 Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the ephah vessel sat a woman! 8 He said, “This is wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the ephah vessel and pushed its lead cover down on it.
9 Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah vessel between heaven and earth.
10 “Where are they taking the ephah vessel?” I asked the angel who was speaking to me. 11 He replied, “To build her a house in the land of Babylon: and when it is prepared, she shall be set there in her own place.”

Chapter 6 1 I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots coming out from between the two mountains—mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black, 3 the third white, and the fourth colorful, mottled. 4 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 The angel answered me, “These are four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world. 6 The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses goes after them, and the one with the mottled horses toward the south.”
7 When the colorful horses went out, they were eager to patrol the earth. And he said, “Go patrol the earth!” So they patrolled the earth.
8 Then he called to me, “Look, those going toward the north country have brought me peace about the north country.”

5. A Commentary on the Reconfigured Text

5.0 Introductory Statement (Ch 1 vs 7)

Chapter 1 7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo.

Darius I (Darius the Great), son of Hystaspes, became king of Persia in Sep. of 522BC. Zechariah was given this prophetic message at the end of Darius' second year, specifically the 24th day of the 11th month, the month of Shebat - around Jan/Feb 519BC. ( Interestingly, a number of prophetic messages have been given to Haggai and Zechariah in this 2nd year of Darius, with their exact dates recorded.)

5.1 The Judahites are Warned and Punished during the First Jewish–Roman War (66AD–73AD) (Ch 5 Vs 1-4)

Chiasmus 1. A Curse falls on Wicked Judahites: The Flying Scroll (5:1-4)

This Period is structured as a chiasmus. The pivot, X [5:3], indicates that the scroll represents a curse for sins. The subunits, A1 [5:1,2] and A2 [5:4], are regarding the administration of the curse.

Chapter 5 1 I looked again, and there before me was a flying scroll.
2 He asked me, “What do you see?”
I answered, “I see a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.”

The scroll represents both God's warnings to the wicked Judahites of this Period and punishment for those who ignore His warnings. The scroll is written on both sides (cf. Rev 5:1), so that it is visible from all directions, to indicate that the Judahites had received clear, unmissable warnings from Christ and his followers (for ex. see Matt. 3:7-10, 23:33-39). The scroll is flying to indicate that this punishment ultimately comes from God (see 5:4 below). We propose that there was such a scroll for each household that had a wicked Judahite as its head (based on 5:4 below), and Zechariah was shown one such scroll.

The dimensions of the scroll, 20x10 cubits (around 9.1x4.5 metres), are the same as those of the porch of Solomon's temple (1 Kings 6:3). It may be that announcements from the temple to the public, including those regarding punishment under the Law, were made from this porch, so the dimensions probably represent the temple and the Law of the Old Covenant. The Judahites who believed in Christ came under the New Covenant and did not need to fear this scroll, as they were forgiven through Christ's sacrifice on the cross (Hebrews 9:15). However those who chose to remain under the Old Covenant were punished according to the Old Covenant Law (Romans 2:12, Hebrews 9:16-22).

Chapter 5 3 And he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; according to what it says on one side, every thief will be purged, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be purged.

Each scroll sent out represented a curse, and the scrolls may have had a list of the sins of the head of the house to which it was sent, to indicate the reason for the curse. The two primary sins of the Judahites of the time are specifically mentioned here: those in power abused their privilege to oppress and steal from the weaker sections of society (for ex, see Isaiah 3:14,15); and the Judahites worshipped pagan gods while pretending to worship the Lord God ("swears falsely by my name", where "swear" means pledge allegiance as in Zeph. 1:5, see also Zeph. 1:4-6). These two sins are covered under the 1st, 3rd and 8th laws of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2–17).

The Judahites of the time who remained under the Old Covenant did not do so out of a sense of faithfulness to God and His Law (see John 5:45-47). They rejected Christ because of their wickedness and so that they could exploit the Law for their own benefit (Matt. 23); for this, they and their families were cruelly purged.

Chapter 5 4 The Lord Almighty declares, ‘I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in that house and destroy it completely, both its timbers and its stones.’”

The scrolls were sent to each of the houses of the Judahites that were destined for destruction by God through the Romans; for the sins of the father, the whole household, including all the dependants and all their possessions, was to be destroyed ("destroy it completely"). These curses stayed with the Judahites' homes until they were destroyed, but even on that last day, as the Romans surrounded Jerusalem, they could lift these curses and save themselves by accepting Christ's message and heeding his exhortation to flee when the Romans began their siege (see Matt. 24:15-18). (See details on this war in our parse of the 70 Weeks of Daniel [2].)

5.2 The Judahites Reconstruct the Temple and Jerusalem (c.519BC - c.444BC) (Ch 1 Vs 8-17, Ch 6 Vs 9-15)

This Period is structured as a series of 2 chiasmi, and while they are primarily regarding the restoration of Jerusalem and the temple of this Period, the second chiasmus has, as its pivot, a prophetic action regarding the Messiah in Period 3.

Chiasmus 1. The Restoration of Jerusalem and its Temple after the Exile in Babylon: The Horsemen at the Myrtle Trees in the Ravine (1:8-17)

The passage below in 1:8-17 is arranged in the form of a two-unit chiasmus:

A1 1:8-9 The Horsemen on horses of 3 colours: Introduction
  B1 1:10-11 The hostile nations that occupy Israel are at peace
    X 1:12-13 God comforts the angel regarding Judea
  B2 1:14-15 The hostile nations that occupy Israel have angered God
A2 1:16-17 The Horsemen on horses of 3 colours: Meaning

While this chiasmus is primarily regarding the restoration of Jerusalem, it also details some of the responsibilities of the angels that control nations on earth. These angels specialize in various aspects of governance, as represented by the colours of their horses.

Subunit A1: The Horsemen on horses of 3 colours: Introduction (1:8-9)

Chapter 1 8 During the night I had a vision, and there before me was a man mounted on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, piebald and white horses.
9 I asked, “What are these, my lord?” The angel who was talking with me answered, “I will show you what they are.”

Zechariah saw this vision at night in 519BC on the date specified in the previous verse, 1:7 (see section 5.0). He is guided through the vision by an angel of God ("The angel who was talking with me" of vs 9), and based on indications in several passages in this prophecy (like 1:12,13), we believe this angel is the Archangel Michael, the protector of Israel (Dan 12:1) (Michael also guided John through the prophecy in the book of Revelation).

In the vision, Zechariah sees horsemen, of unspecified number, standing stationary among myrtle trees on horses of 3 colours. Horsemen, in prophecy, represent angels who are given a significant, extended assignment on earth (cf. Rev 6:1-7), with the colour of the horse representing the rider's office. The meaning of the colours can be inferred from the corresponding subunit A2 [1:16-17] - see commentary below. Only one of the horsemen/angels speaks - the leader of the horsemen with red horses - presumably because he is given an assignment he must immediately complete, as detailed in Unit B below.

The myrtle (an evergreen, fragrant shrub) and the ravine (likely a wadi, a life-giving watercourse), seem to symbolise the revitalization and prosperity predicted through the vision of this chiasmus (regarding the myrtle, see Isaiah 41:19, 55:13, Neh. 8:15).

Subunit B1: The hostile nations that occupy Israel are at peace (1:10-11)

Chapter 1 10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the land.”
11 And they reported to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone throughout the land and found the whole land at rest and in peace.”

With the Northern Tribes gone and most of the Judahites exiled, the land of Israel was occupied by peoples that were hostile to the small company of Judahites that returned (see Ezra 4:4); however, in the spiritual realm, all of Israel was still considered God's land (see 1 Kings 17:24-28). The angel on the red horse explains that his angels have been given the task of surveying God's land, the whole land of Israel. The angels report back to their leader that the enemies of the Judahites enjoy peace in God's land (red horses are associated with war/peace - cf. Rev 6:4).

Pivot X: God comforts the angel regarding Judea (1:12-13)

Chapter 1 12 Then the angel of the Lord said, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?” 13 So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

The Judahites had been punished for their sins with an exile in Babylon that lasted 70 years. The Archangel Michael, the angel guiding Zechariah through this vision, asked God how much longer the Judahites should suffer God's wrath - Michael is particularly concerned, because he was the angel responsible for the Judahites (see Dan. 12:1). God comforts Michael by assuring him that the Judahites' period of extreme punishment had ended (however, they will still face the problems of the 70 sevens of Daniel 9 - see Dan 9:25). This pivot has the primary message of this chiasmus.

Subunit B2: The hostile nations that occupy Israel have angered God (1:14-15)

Chapter 1 14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, 15 and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment.’

This passage continues from Subunit B1 [1:10-11]. An edict by Cyrus, circa 535BC, had freed the Judahites to begin reconstruction of their temple (see Ezra 1:1-4), but the enemies of Judah living in the land of Israel, such as the Samaritans, had opposed the rebuilding and stopped the temple construction (see Ezra 4:4,24). The angels on the red horses reported that these hostile peoples were at peace, and this angered God, because His own people were in a state of unease at being without temple or city. God had given up the Judahites to their enemies for 70 years as punishment for their sins, but now that the punishment was concluded, He wanted to reinstate His protection and support of His people.

Subunit A2: The Horsemen on horses of 3 colours: Meaning (1:16-17)

Chapter 1 16 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty.
17a “Proclaim further: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘My towns will again overflow with prosperity, 17b and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”

With God's support, the temple reconstruction was completed around 3 years after this prophecy in 516BC (see Ezra 5,6) and Jerusalem was rebuilt around 75 years later in 444BC under Nehemiah (see Neh. 2:1-9) - the act of measurement indicates that the Judahites retook ownership of the city with God's help (cf. Rev 11:1,2). The city will once again come under God's protection ("comfort Zion", "choose Jerusalem")

We propose that the meanings of the colours of the horses in the corresponding Subunit A1 [1:8-9] - red, piebald and white - can be inferred from this passage (in keeping with the chiastic theme, the meanings are presented in reverse order in this passage):

• White horses represent political power. These angels are responsible for restoring and controlling the nation ("the measuring line will be stretched out"), as detailed in 1:16 (see also Rev 19:11, Zech. 6:3).
• Piebald horses represent control over the economy. Under the care of these angels, the Judahite economy will thrive (vs 1:17a). These horses are of two colours ("piebald"), but which two? We propose that the dominant colour is black because these angels specialize in the economy ("overflow with prosperity"), the same field as the black horses of Rev. 6:5-6. The second colour may be white, because angels who run the economy must have some political power as well (see also Rev 19:11).
• Red horses represent assignments related to war/peace. Verse 1:17b indicates that the city will now come under God's protection ("comfort Zion", "choose Jerusalem"), and peace for the Judahites comes through these angels on the red horses (see also Rev 6:4, Zech. 6:2, Isaiah 40:1,2). These angels were also sent to assess the state of war/peace in Israel (1:11).

Chiasmus 2. A Prophetic Action: The Crowns on the High Priest (6:9-15)

The passage below in 6:9-15 forms chiasmus. The pivot, X [6:11-14] is a prophetic action that foretells the reign of the Messiah as priest and king. The subunits, A1 [6:9-10] and A2 [6:15], are regarding the construction of the temple of this Period with the aid of those living far away.

Chapter 6 9 The word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.

A few devout Judahites, seeking to pass on donations of silver and gold from Judahite exiles still in Babylon, towards the temple reconstruction efforts, had arrived at the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Zechariah is to meet them immediately, before they donate their treasure as they planned.

Chapter 6 11 Take the silver and gold and make crowns, and set them on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak. 12 Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ 14 The crowns will be given to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord.

In this passage, the pivot [6:11-14], Zechariah is directed to perform a prophetic action - a prophetic action is a non-verbal prophecy in which the prophet acts out a prediction (as in Ezekiel 4,5 and Zechariah 11:4-17). Zechariah is to take the offerings of precious metals and make two crowns, one of silver and one of gold, and place them on the head of Joshua the high priest (two crowns indicate leadership in two domains). Since this is a prophetic action, the crowns did not stay on Joshua's head (Zerubbabel remained the political leader); they were returned to the donors so that they could be displayed in the temple as symbols of the glorious future leadership of Israel. Although the quote from God in this passage (6:12-13) is addressed to Joshua, it is regarding the coming Messiah, because Joshua represents the Messiah.

This prophetic action predicts the crowning of the coming Messiah of the Millennial Reign in Period 3 (see also Rev. 19:12). The coming Messiah is called the Branch (or Sprout) because he is a shoot from the dormant root ("branch out from his place") of the line of David (see Jer. 23:5,33:15, Isaiah 4:2,11:1). The Messiah will be king over Israel, restoring the Davidic line to power forever, as promised to David, and he will build the temple of the Millennial Reign (see 2 Samuel 7:1-17). Joshua is crowned with two crowns, because the coming Messiah, like Melchizedek and Christ, will be both priest ("priest on his throne") and king ("rule on his throne"), and the two offices and the hierarchies under those offices will work as a united whole ("harmony between the two") - the Church and State will be united under the Messiah (as detailed in our paper on Micah [4], we believe Melchizedek was a previous incarnation of the coming Messiah).

Since this is a symbolic passage, the meanings of the names mentioned here may be particularly pertinent. The names Joshua "God is salvation" and Jozadak "God has made just" seem to indicate that the coming Messiah will save the Israelites from Satan's empire and reign righteously. The names Helem "strength", Tobijah "God is good", Jedaiah "God knows/cares", Josiah "God supports", Hen "grace/favour" and Zephaniah "God hides", are all connected to the crown and they indicate that the crown is a hidden promise that God will be benevolent to the Israelites through the reign of the Messiah.

Chapter 6 15 Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord your God.”

This last verse of the prophecy continues from Subunit A1 [6:9-10], and is regarding the construction of the temple with help from Judahites living abroad (see also Ezra 1:4-6). Zechariah predicts that the temple of that time, the Second Temple, will be completed soon, but only if the Judahites obey their God. Zechariah, along with Haggai, played a significant role in motivating the Judahites into building the temple (see Ezra 5:1-2). Zechariah's prediction about the temple came true around 3 years after this prophecy, further proving to the Judahites that Zechariah was indeed sent by God (note that Zechariah did not have an angelic guide for this section of the prophecy).

5.3 Satan is Defeated and Christ's Reign is Established at the Start of the Millennial Reign (circa 2027AD) (Ch 1 Vs 18 - Ch 4 Vs 14, Ch 5 Vs 5 - Ch 6 Vs 8)

This Period is structured as a series of 5 chiasmi, and they are primarily regarding the defeat of Satan and the institution of the New Israel of the Millennial Reign. In the first chiasmus, God takes control of the New Israel; the next three are regarding various aspects of God's governance (political, spiritual and economic); and in the last chiasmus, God takes control over the rest of the world.

Chiasmus 1. The Israelites' enslavers are destroyed, Israel is restored to a nation under God: The Four Horns, The Four Craftsmen, The Measurement of Jerusalem (1:8-2:9)

The passage below in 1:18-2:9 is arranged in the form of a three-unit chiasmus:

A1 1:18-19 The Four Horns scatter the Israelites
  B1 1:20-21 The Four Craftsmen destroy the Horns
    C1 2:1-2 God takes control of the New Israel
      X 2:3 A superior angel arrives to make a correction
    C2 2:4-5 God takes control of the New Israel
  B2 2:6-8a The Four Craftsmen destroy the Horns: Flee from "Babylon"
A2 2:8b-9 The Four Horns are scattered

This chiasmus is regarding the restoration of Israel and the defeat of its enemies. The Archangel Michael guides Zechariah through parts of this vision ("the angel who was speaking to me" of 1:19 - see also 1:9). Parsing note: In Unit A the New Israel is called "Judah, Israel and Jerusalem", in Unit B it is called "Judah" and "Zion", and in Unit C it is called "Jerusalem".

Subunit A1: The Four Horns scatter the Israelites (1:18-19)

Chapter 1 18 Then I looked up, and there before me were four horns. 19 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these?”
He answered me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.”

During the period of tribulation before the Millennial Reign, four "horns" (horns represent centres of power - for ex., see Dan. 8:20) will scatter some of the Israelites ("Judah, Israel and Jerusalem" represent all of Israel, both the southern and northern tribes) to regions outside the New Israel (see Joel 3:4-8 where these centres of power are called "Tyre, Sidon and regions of Philistia", see also Isaiah 23:1,14-17). These "horns" are not described as attached to any animal (the animal would indicate the nation to which they belong, as in Daniel 7), and based on clues in Units A and B of this chiasmus, we propose that they are powerful international organizations related to trade and commerce, that are a part of Satan's organization of "Babylon".

Subunit B1: The Four Craftsmen destroy the Horns (1:20-21)

Chapter 1 20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. 21 I asked, “What are these coming to do?”
He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise their head, but the craftsmen have come to terrify them, to throw down these horns of the peoples, that lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.”

At the start of the Millennial Reign, 4 angels ("craftsmen") will terrorize and destroy the 4 organizations ("horns") that have enslaved ("no one raised their head") and scattered some of the Israelites ("Judah" in this passage refers to all of Israel). We believe the "craftsmen" are angels, because Israel's victories in this Period are typically achieved with the aid of supernatural forces; and they are called "craftsmen" to indicate that, like the "horns", they specialize in the field of trade and commerce.

Subunit C1: God takes control of the New Israel (2:1-2)

Chapter 2 1 Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to find out how wide and how long it is.”

An angel of God ("man") tells Zechariah that he was about to establish the dimensions of the New Israel (for the passages of Unit C, "Jerusalem" synecdochically refers to the New Israel of the Millennial Reign). Measurement is an act of taking control and ownership, so this passage indicates that God will reign over the New Israel (cf. Rev 11:1,2).

Pivot X: A superior angel arrives to make a correction (2:3)

Chapter 2 3 While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him.

Another angel, superior to the angel of 2:1, immediately arrives to correct any possible errors in communication.

In addition the predictions contained in it, this prophecy provides a glimpse into the workings of the angelic realm. This passage, the pivot, indicates that errors and omissions by spiritual beings are immediately corrected by superiors.

Subunit C2: God takes control of the New Israel (2:4-5)

Chapter 2 4 He said to him: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be like towns without walls because of the great number of people and animals in it. 5 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’

The angel with the measuring line is sent back by the superior to correct any misapprehension on the part of Zechariah ("the young man"), because Zechariah may have gotten the impression that the New Israel ("Jerusalem") would be a land with fixed borders. During the Millennial Reign, Israel will be an unwalled, continually expanding land because of its teeming, surging population and its growing wealth ("animals") (cf. Obadiah 1:19-20). The New Israel will have no use for fortifications, because God Himself will protect it ("wall of fire") (see Isaiah 27:2,3, Zech. 9:10) and God will be its glory (see Isaiah 4:5,6, 60:19,20).

Subunit B2: The Four Craftsmen destroy the Horns: Flee from "Babylon" (2:6-8a)

Chapter 2 6 “Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “though I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven,” declares the Lord.
7 “Come, Zion! Escape, you who live in Daughter Babylon!” 8a Truly this is what the Lord Almighty says after the Glorious One has sent me against the peoples that have plundered you.

The Israelites had been scattered all over the world by God as punishment for the sins of their forefathers (Deut. 28:64), and they will soon return (Isaiah 11:12). But the Israelites that are associated with "Babylon" are to exit the evil organization immediately (see also Rev 18:4), for the coming Messiah (the Archangel Michael, the speaker of 2:7-9) will attack these divisions ("horns") of "Babylon" with the aid of these "craftsmen"(see also 6:6,8 below and Rev. 6).

We believe that the "land of the north" is another name for Satan's organization of "Babylon", because the word translated "north" can also mean "dark" or "hidden". This Satanic organization is spread around the world, so "north" is not a literal direction ("north" is similarly used in 6:6 and 6:8 below).

Subunit A2: The Four Horns are scattered (2:8b-9)

Chapter 2 8b Truly whoever touches you touches the pupil of his eye. 9 I will surely raise my hand against them, so that they will become plunder for their own slaves. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.

The 4 "horns" have dealt grievously with the Israelites, and harming God's people is akin to poking Him in the eye - a personal affront that will be dealt with severely (see also Joel 3:4-6). The coming Messiah, the speaker of this passage, will devastate these "horns" with the aid of the "craftsmen" angels, so that they will be taken into slavery by the Israelites and other peoples they had enslaved (see Joel 3:7-8). The Messiah's success in this mission will prove to the Israelites that he is indeed sent by God.

Chiasmus 2. The New Israel gets Righteous Political Leadership: Joshua is Clothed in Clean Garments (2:10-3:10)

The passage below in 2:10-3:10 is arranged in the form of a three-unit chiasmus:

A1 2:10-13 God takes control over the New Israel through the Messiah
  B1 3:1-2 Righteous Leadership is installed over Israel
    C1 3:3-4a Joshua's filthy clothes are removed
      X 3:4b The kingship of Israel is purified
    C2 3:5 Joshua is given fine robes and a mitre
  B2 3:6-7 Righteous Leadership is installed over Israel
A2 3:8-10 God takes control over the New Israel through the Messiah

In the vision of this chiasmus, Joshua the high priest represents the coming Messiah's role as king.

Subunit A1: God takes control over the New Israel through the Messiah (2:10-13)

This subunit A1 [2:10-13] is itself in the form of a chiasmus. The pivot, [2:11b], is regarding the Messiah's reign. The subunits, [2:10-11a] and [2:12-13], indicate that God will reign over Israel and the rest of the world.

Chapter 2 10 “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. 11a “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people."

The Israelites ("Daughter Zion") are to rejoice, because the Lord God will figuratively "live among" them, in the sense that He will control the land through His representatives and nurture the Israelites (Isaiah 4:5,6, 30:19-20). Before the start of the Millennial Reign, the Israelites will be the majority race in a few nations, and these nations will unite to form the New Israel.

Chapter 2 11b I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.

This pivot indicates that the coming Messiah (Archangel Michael, the speaker of this passage) will literally live among the Israelites (Isaiah 9:6), and rule the New Israel for God and Christ. It will be clear to Israel that the Messiah was sent by God.

Chapter 2 12 The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

The nations of the world are controlled from the spiritual realm by heavenly beings (see Psalm 82), but the Israelites ("Judah"/"Jerusalem") will once again come under God's dominion, as it was before their exile. The nations are to "be still" before God - that is, honour God or be punished - for, after 6 millennia under Satan, the world will now be ruled by God ("roused Himself") through the New Israel (see Zech. 14:16, Rev 2:27).

Subunit B1: Righteous Leadership is installed over Israel (3:1-2)

Chapter 3 1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”

This is a symbolic vision, in which all the actors represent someone else. Who are the actors in this vision and what do they represent? Joshua the priest stands before an "angel of the Lord" in a judicial setting, with Satan, his accuser (see Rev. 12:10), standing at his right side (cf. Psalm 109:6). The "angel of the Lord" represents God and speaks for God (the prophet refers to him both as an angel and as God). Joshua represents the Messiah's role as king of Israel in this vision (see 3:8 in Subunit A2 below), for although Joshua is a high priest, he is also a political leader (Ezra 5:2) (based in subunit A1, we believe this vision is regarding kingship and not priesthood). Since everyone in this vision represents someone else, we propose that Satan represents all the fallen angels who object to the Messiah's reign. Also present are: a group of angels, representing the powerful spirits of God's presence ("those who were standing before him" in 3:4); and Joshua's associates. representing the political hierarchy of the New Israel (3:8). Zechariah also participates (3:5) and he represents the people of the New Israel.

The question before the court appears to be whether the Messiah should reign as king over Israel; this concerns Satan and the fallen angels, because the king of the New Israel will also have authority over the world, even the territories outside Israel, those ruled by fallen angels. "Satan's" argument is not stated here, but he presumably pleads that the position should remain closed, presumably replaced by a democracy, seeing that Israel's kings in the past have been less than ideal - they have proved wicked and unworthy of ruling over the world. But God says He has chosen Israel ("Jerusalem") as His nation again, and He has chosen to restore its kingship. God counters Satan's accusations by pointing out that Israel has had no king for a long time; the office had been punished and purged through the fire of destruction, and the Messiah ("Joshua") is like a burning stick barely rescued from the fire. The Messiah is an angel sent from heaven to revive the forgotten line of David, he is a shoot from a long dormant root. God rebukes "Satan" because he is already well aware of all this.

Subunit C1: Joshua's filthy clothes are removed (3:3-4a)

Chapter 3 3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4a The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”

The angel (representing God) tells the other angels (representing the angels of God's presence) to remove Joshua's filthy clothes. The filthy clothes represent the past sins of the kings of the Israelites, and their removal indicates cleansing of the office.

Pivot X: The kingship of Israel is purified (3:4b)

Chapter 3 4b Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”

This passage, the pivot summarizes the essence of this chiasmus. The garbing of Joshua with fine clothes signifies the installation of righteous kingship through God's grace.

Subunit C2: Joshua is given fine robes and a mitre (3:5)

Chapter 3 5 Then I said, “Put a clean mitre on his head.” So they put a clean mitre on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.

Zechariah, who was purely a witness to this scene till now, suggests that Joshua wears a clean mitre - a mitre is the priestly equivalent of a crown. We propose that Zechariah represents the people of the New Israel, and his act indicates that the Israelites of the Millennial Reign will also seek righteous leadership and will gladly accept the Messiah as their king. God ("The angel of the Lord") stands by and witnesses the Israelites crown their king.

Subunit B2: Righteous Leadership is installed over Israel (3:6-7)

Chapter 3 6 The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: 7 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Truly you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you access to these standing here.

The Messiah will be obedient to God and His Law; he will reign over and be responsible for the Israel of the Millennial Reign (the "house" and "courts" of the temple represents the New Israel, in keeping with the metaphor of the high priest representing kingship). The king will have free access to divine assistance from the powerful angels of God's presence ("those standing here").

Subunit A2: God takes control over the New Israel through the Messiah (3:8-10)

This subunit A2 in 3:8-10 is itself in the form of a chiasmus. The pivot, [3:9], indicates that God will take ownership of Israel. The subunits, [3:8] and [3:10], indicate that Israel will be blessed with prosperity during the reign of the Messiah. ( The topic of the subunits in A2 is the same as the pivot in A1, and that of the pivot in A2 is the same as that of the subunits in A1.)

Chapter 3 8 “‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.

The High Priest in this vision symbolizes the Messiah's role as king over Israel. The Messiah is called the Branch in this and several other passages (see Jer. 23:5, cf. Isaiah 11:1-5), because he is the shoot from a dormant root of the line of David. Those accompanying Joshua represent the members of the political administration of the Millennial Reign - they will help the Messiah reign over the New Israel and the world.

Chapter 3 9 See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave its inscription,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in one day.

We take the "stone" to be a gemstone that represents Israel ("this land"), and the seven eyes watching the stone to refer to the seven spirits of God and Christ (see Rev 5:6) that watch over Israel. The stone is placed in front of Joshua to indicate that Israel will be under the control of the Messiah.

This gemstone has carvings on it (an intaglio or a signet ring) that identifies its owner, and the inscription on this "stone" apparently indicates that Israel is once again God's nation. God will reopen Israelites' hearts to His truth (He had hardened their hearts against Himself as punishment - see Isaiah 29:9,10), and He will write His law on the Israelites hearts (see Jer. 31:33), so that they stop worshipping idol gods and turn back to their God in a short time ("one day") (see Ezekiel 37:23, Isaiah 66:7,8).

Chapter 3 10 “‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

The New Israel will enjoy an age of peace and prosperity during the Millennial Reign of Christ and his Messiah - the Israelites will no longer be punished for the waywardness of their forefathers (see 1 Kings 4:25, Isaiah 60:17,18, Micah 4:4).

Chiasmus 3. The Spiritual Leadership of the Millennial Reign: The Lampstand and the Olive Trees (4:1-14)

The passage below in 4:1-14 is arranged in the form of a two-unit chiasmus:

A1 4:1-3 The Lampstand and the Olive trees: The New Church
  B1 4:4-7a Zerubbabel builds the temple with God's help
    X 4:7b Zerubbabel places the capstone on the temple
  B2 4:8-10 Zerubbabel builds the temple with God's help
A2 4:11-14 The Lampstand and the Olive trees: The Two Priests

The vision of this chiasmus is regarding the Messiah's role as priest (the previous chiasmus was about the Messiahs role as king), and regarding the creation of a new Church organization for the Millennial Reign. Ironically, Zerubbabel the governor is a type of the Messiah's role as high priest here, while Joshua the high priest represents the Messiah as king in the previous chiasmus.

Subunit A1: The Lampstand and the Olive trees: The New Church (4:1-3)

Chapter 4 1 Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. 2a He asked me, “What do you see?”

Zechariah is wakened again by the Archangel Michael for a new vision regarding the Church of the Millennial Reign.

Chapter 4 2b I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

Consider the physical mechanism Zechariah sees in the vision: the olive oil from the two olive trees is fed into the bowl at the top of the lampstand, and the oil is then distributed from the bowl to the 7 lamps through 7 channels.

We believe that this entire mechanism represents the Church of the Millennial Age. The two 'olive trees' are two prophets of God and Christ (see also Rev 11:3,4) and the 'oil' symbolizes spiritual wisdom from God (cf. Matt. 25:1-13). The 'lampstand' is the church's organizational structure, with the gold indicating its spiritual strength, and the 7 'lamps' representing its seven divisions (note that while Israel is politically divided into 12, the Church is divided into 7 - see Rev 1:20,2:1,5:6). The 'bowl' and 'channels' represent a broadcasting mechanism (like the 7 letters to the 7 churches in Rev 1-3). To summarize, the wisdom ('oil') from God is passed on to the Church through his prophets to fuel Christian congregations ('lamps'), and they in turn radiate that wisdom into the world through their character and conduct ('light') (cf. Matt 5:16).

Subunit B1: Zerubbabel builds the temple with God's help (4:4-7a)

Chapter 4 4 I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. 7a “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.

The prophet sees some undecipherable writing in his vision (as in Dan 5:5-7) and asks about it (this is not an inquiry into meaning of the lampstand, as that can be found in subunit A2), The angel answers that these are words from God that the prophet must pass on to Zerubbabel. Exchanges like those in 4:4-5, where the guiding angel asks the prophet if he understands what he sees, are designed to call attention to the prophecy that follows (cf. Rev 7:13-14).

The message from God is that, because He wills it ("by my Spirit"), the temple will be built, though Zerubbabel did not have the means or the strength ("Not by might nor by power") (Nehemiah 4:2). With God's help, the "mountain" of obstacles to Zerubbabel's construction of the temple become as "level ground", for example: God influences the powerful Medo-Persians to support the Judahites' efforts, even over the objections of hostile neighbours (Ezra 1:1, 4:4-5); He arranges funds for the temple (Ezra 1:4); God exhorts the unwilling Judahites to begin and to persevere with the reconstruction effort (Haggai 1:14).

This event from Period 1 is placed here in Period 3, because Zerubbabel is a type of the Messiah's role as priest, and the building of the temple is a type of the growth of the Church. At this time of the start of the Millennial Reign, true Christianity will grow tremendously, both in the New Israel and in the rest of the world through God's work on the hearts of people and through the Messiah publishing God's word to the world (Rev 14:6-7). As in the case of the temple, this miraculous growth will happen against all odds - the Messiah himself does not have the means or the power - because God wills it ("by my Spirit").

Pivot X: Zerubbabel places the capstone on the temple (4:7b)

Chapter 4 7b Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”

In this pivot, Zerubbabel completes the construction of the temple to great celebration among the Judahites. The Messiah will similarly complete the teaching of true Christianity to the whole world ("bring out the capstone") with God's blessings, to the joy of the faithful around the world (Matt 24:14).

Subunit B2: Zerubbabel builds the temple with God's help (4:8-10)

Chapter 4 8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9a “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it."
9b Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.
10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel?”

This Subunit B2 [4:8-10] is itself structured as a chiasmus. The pivot [4:9b] is spoken by the Archangel, while the subunits, [4:8-9a] and [4:10], are directly from God.

Zerubbabel laid the foundation for the temple (Ezra 3:8-10) and he will complete its construction (cf. Ezra 6:15,16). Many Judahites mourned the small size of the temple that was planned ("the day of small things") (Ezra 3:12, Haggai 2:3), but the 7 angels who would be responsible for the Church (Rev 1:20) rejoiced when they saw the plumb line in Zerubbabel hands, because the worldwide church would grow out of this humble building and its associated community of faithful Judahites (Malachi 3:1). The Angel delivering this message, the Archangel Michael, says that he will be acknowledged as a messenger sent from God when the Judahites see that the Second Temple is completed (see also vs 2:10).

Zerubbabel as the builder of the temple is a type of the Messiah as priest, and the Second Temple is a type of the Church. The Messiah, as the Holy Spirit, played a role in the physical foundation of the Church: he was instrumental in Christ's conception (Matthew 1:20) and he aided Christ (Matt 3:16) from the spiritual world. The Church had humble beginning and was initially despised by the world (see for ex. Matt. 13:55) - the entire period of Jesus' life may be considered a "day of small things" - but the 7 angels responsible for the Church rejoiced as they knew its potential (Rev 1:20). For in Period 3, Christianity enters an age of worldwide conquest after the gospel is preached to all nations ("he will also complete it") (Matt. 24:14, Rev 14:6). And like the Judahites of Period 1, the whole world will acknowledge the Messiah as God's messenger when they see the explosive growth of true Christianity.

Subunit A2: The Lampstand and the Olive trees: The Two Priests (4:11-14)

Chapter 4 11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”
12 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?” 13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I said.
14 So he said, “These are the two sons of oil who serve the Lord of all the earth.”

This passage continues from Subunit A1 [4:1-3], regarding the Lampstand. The two olive trees are two prophets and priests that serve Christ, the "Lord of all the earth", by transmitting Christ's wisdom to the Church during Millennial Reign. They are called "sons of oil", because they are conduits for oil/wisdom from Christ. They will continue to serve as prophets even after the Millennial Reign, for they are the Two Witnesses of the Last Days (Rev 11:3,4). Note the question and answer format of this passage that indicates its significance.

Chiasmus 4. The Israelites are freed from the Economic Tyranny of "Babylon": The Ephah and Wicked Woman (5:5-11)

The passage below in 5:5-11 forms a chiasmus. The pivot, X [5:7-9], indicates that the wicked "woman" will no longer suppress Israel's economy. The subunits, A1 [5:5-6] and A2 [10-11], indicate that the "woman" will be used to devastate "Babylon's" economy. After the chiasmi related to the Religious and Political aspects of the Messiah's reign, this chiasmus is regarding the Economy.

Chapter 5 5 Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, “Look up and see what is appearing.”
6 I asked, “What is it?”
He replied, “It is an ephah vessel.” And he added, “This is their appearance in all the land.”

Archangel Michael ("the angel who was speaking to me") shows the prophet a measuring vessel, the kind that was typically used in commerce in the region ("this is their appearance in all the land"). Since this kind of ephah is used for commerce, we propose that this chiasmus is regarding the economy of the nation, and this particular ephah represents an aspect of the economy.

Chapter 5 7 Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the ephah vessel sat a woman! 8 He said, “This is wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the ephah vessel and pushed its lead cover down on it. 9 Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah vessel between heaven and earth.

We propose that the woman in the ephah represents an evil institution set up by Satan's empire of "Babylon" to control and suppress the economy of the Israelites (an example of such an institution would be the Central Reserve Bank of the nation). The Archangel Michael lifts her out of the ephah vessel to show her to the prophet and identify her as evil ("this is wickedness"), because her evil nature is not easily recognized. He then throws the woman back in, and replaces the lead cover of the ephah over her - this ephah and the woman in it together represent an evil aspect of the economy that has kept the Israelites in poverty.

Since "women" represent organizations in this vision, we propose that the two other women, the ones with wings, represent two companies of angels (at the time of the Millennial Reign Israel's battles will be fought with the help of angels). These angelic organizations had leaders ("wings" represent leaders - see Dan 7:4,6) with great power (a stork has powerful wings), so that the organizations they controlled were also powerful ("wind in their wings"). These angels take the evil institution ("woman in the ephah") away from the Israelite nation, indicating that they render it toothless, so that the New Israel enjoys an economic surge in this Period and continues to prosper throughout the Millennial Reign.

Chapter 5 10 “Where are they taking the ephah vessel?” I asked the angel who was speaking to me.
11 He replied, “To build her a house in the land of Babylon: and when it is prepared, she shall be set there in her own place.”

The two women with wings will take the wicked woman to "Babylon", the place of her origin, indicating that they will set up a similar organization in "Babylon" that devastates its economy from the inside. So that, just as "Babylon" stole from the Israelites and other nations, the righteous will plunder the riches of "Babylon" (see Rev 18:6-20, 16:4-7).

Chiasmus 5. Satan is Defeated and Christ takes Control of the World: The Four Chariots (6:1-8)

The passage below in 6:1-8 forms a chiasmus. The pivot, X [6:4-6], identifies the chariots and their mission of taking control of the world. The subunits, A1 [6:1-3] and A2 [6:7-8], predict the destruction of "Babylon".

The previous chiasmi have been regarding various aspects of the New Israel. This vision is regarding governance of the rest of the world, because God and Christ will reign over the whole world from Israel after defeating Satan's forces.

Chapter 6 1 I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots coming out from between the two mountains—mountains of bronze.

Since mountains signify large populations (as in Rev 17:9) and bronze represents spiritual strength (as in Rev 1:15), we take the two "mountains of bronze" to represent the two great angelic forces of the spiritual world: those of God and Satan. Because of the presence of chariots, we presume that this vision occurs in a context of war: these angelic forces ("bronze mountains") are battling it out at the start of the Millennial Reign in a war that mirrors the earthly war between the forces of good and evil. ( The 'mountain' that represents the angels of God must be twice as large as the 'mountain' of fallen angels, because only a third of the angels chose to defect with Satan - see Rev 12:4.)

Chapter 6 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black, 3 the third white, and the fourth colorful, mottled.

In the other visions involving horses (Zech. 1:7-17, Rev. 6:1-7) horsemen represented angels, but here, the horses themselves represent angels, and the chariot that unites them indicates that they form a fighting unit of warrior angels (the word "spirit", as used in 6:5 below indicates a group of angels).

The colours of the four sets of horses represent the domain of expertise of the angels, and we infer the meaning of the colour based on clues in other "horse" visions (Zech. 1:7-17, Rev. 6:2-8). We propose that: 'white' represents specialists in political battles; 'black' signifies specialists in battles over economics and commerce; 'red' is related to literal war and peace; and horses that are "colourfully mottled" represent angels that can battle across multiple domains.

Chapter 6 4 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 The angel answered me, “These are four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.

These battle units are sent into the world by Christ, the "Lord of the whole world" (cf. Rev. 11:4). The angels peel off from the spiritual battle between the two heavenly forces ("from between the two mountains") to complete their assignment on earth.

Chapter 6 6 The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses goes after them, and the one with the mottled horses toward the south.”

We take the "north country" to represent Satan's land, "Babylon" (the word translated "north" can also mean "dark" or "hidden"); this 'Babylon' is an organization that is spread across the globe, so "north" here is not a literal direction (the word "north" is similarly used in 2:6). Two companies of angels go to the "north" to defeat and destroy "Babylon": the 'black chariot' devastates it economically and the 'white chariot' destroys it politically (see Rev 16:4-6,12).

By extension, "south" is also not a direction, but represents everything that is not a part of the organization of 'Babylon', essentially the whole world (this idea is supported in 6:7 below). The "colourful, mottled horses" go out to bring the whole world ("south") under the control of Christ and his Messiah - they are colourful to indicate that Christ will take control of all aspects of the world with the help of these angels (Isaiah 9:7).

Since no particular direction is assigned to the "red horses", we assume they stay in the New Israel to protect the land from attacks by hostile forces like the Beast army (see Rev 19:19).

Chapter 6 7 When the colorful horses went out, they were eager to patrol the earth. And he said, “Go patrol the earth!” So they patrolled the earth.

After the "colourful horses" brought the world under Christ's control, they asked if they might continue patrolling the earth (outside Israel) for Christ, to ensure continued compliance, and they were given permission to do so. The nations outside Israel will be ruled by fallen angels, but these policing angels will make sure that the nations are run within the parameters set by Christ.

Chapter 6 8 Then he called to me, “Look, those going toward the north country have brought me peace about the north country.”

The Archangel Michael ("angel who was speaking to me" in 6:4), the Messiah, is the speaker of this passage. The "white" and "black" angels have destroyed "Babylon" ("north country"), his most dangerous enemy, so setting the Messiah's mind at ease (see also Rev 16,18).

Conclusion

With this chiastic reconstruction of the text, we have shown that Zechariah 1-6 contains prophecies on three Periods. The prophecy is primarily regarding the institution of the New Israel of the Millennial Reign after Satan's defeat. The prophecy also provides an insight into the workings of the spiritual world - it gives us a glimpse into the interactions between various spiritual beings in the heavenly hierarchy and the effects of their work in the physical realm. Some of the symbolism that is used in this difficult passage can also be found in the book of Revelation, and this helps corroborate our interpretations of both books.

References

[1] A Definition of Cryptochiasmus
[2] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of "The 70 Weeks Of Daniel"
[3] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Revelation 4-22 Part 2
[4] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Micah 4 and 5
[5] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of "The Olivet Discourse" in Matthew 24
[6] A Chiastic Reconfiguration Of Revelation 4-22 Part 3






* Updated 1 Sep 2023 with regular chiasmi.